Hekman Library: English: Home

Recommended Database

MLA International Bibliography (EBSCO)
MLA International Bibliography: Definitive index for language, literature, linguistics, rhetoric, and film studies.

In addition to its research coverage, the MLA database also includes two important scholarly search tools: the MLA Directory of Periodicals and the MLA Thesaurus, a proprietary, searchable collection of thousands of subject terms and personal names used in indexing the bibliography. Learn more about the MLA International Bibliography database, its features and tools, and advanced searching options in these video tutorials.
JSTOR
JSTOR offers scholarly, peer-reviewed journals across numerous disciplines.
Project Muse
600+ scholarly journals in humanities and social sciences; Calvin Alumni access.

Dictionary of Literary Biography
Dictionary of Literary Biography Complete gives comprehensive author info worldwide.
Literary Reference Source (EBSCO)
Literary database with wide subject coverage from classic to contemporary.

Combining information from major respected reference works, books, literary journals and original content from EBSCO, Literary Reference Center features an expansive collection of author biographies, plot summaries and full-text essays from leading publishers. It also includes literary reference books and monographs, cover-to-cover full text for literary magazines and book reviews from the most prestigious publications. It offers poems from hundreds of sources, short stories, classic texts, author interviews and much more.

Poets.org
From the Academy of American Poets, this site provides full-text poems as well as biographical and critical background on major U.S. poets.

Looking to discover more? Remember these tips while searching in the library's online catalog, Primo:

If you are looking for a specific book, use Advanced Search and change the first search box from Any Field to Title, then enter the exact title of the book
If you are looking for books about an author, use Advanced Search and change the first search box from Any Field to Subject, then enter the author's name
If you are looking for books by an author, use Advanced Search and change the first search box from Any Field to Author, then enter the author's name

Hekman How-To Video Playlist
Check out the library's Youtube channel for step-by-step visuals on how to find books, articles, and more in our online Primo Search.

Children's and Young Adult Literature
by Sarah McClure Kolk Last Updated Sep 23, 2025 55 views this year
Diversity Readings
by Amanda Matthysse Last Updated Sep 29, 2025 133 views this year
ENGL101 - Evaluating Sources Activity
by Sarah McClure Kolk Last Updated Oct 6, 2025 203 views this year
English
by Sarah McClure Kolk Last Updated Sep 29, 2025 16 views this year

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Research and instruction, collection development
Liaison to Communication, English, Philosophy, Visual and Performing Arts (Art, Music), Gender Studies